Humanitarian Military Journal

BACKGROUND: Increasing popularity of winter swimming in the Russian Federation has boosted interest in this activity. The number of publications and studies on developing a single training system for athletes, improving swimming techniques in various styles tailored to the specific conditions of competitions has increased and strictly regulated competition rules are developed. However, studies on why people go in for this challenging sport are limited.

AIM: This study aimed to find the main component in the health behavior and motivation to go in for sports in winter swimming athletes of different age groups.

METHODS: The study involved 68 winter swimmers, including 34 females and 34 males, with the average age of 43 years (±9 years) and about 2 years of amateur swimming experience. Methods: Assessment of Amateur Athlete Motivation (PALMS) adapted by Bochaver, Bondarev, and Papkova; Risk Appetite by Schubert-Shmelev (RSK), Health Behavior questionnaire by Berezovskaya, and our own questionnaire with general questions about the athletes’ sports experience. Mathematical processing of data included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS: The results of the Health Behavior survey showed that the cognitive and behavioral components are the basic components in the health behavior system. We have found no gender-related differences in the health behavior. In addition, the study proved that males have a significantly higher level of risk appetite than females in this group. The winter swimming motivation test showed that physical condition is the dominant motive in all age groups, both males and females. The second most important motive for the majority is pleasure and a desire to meet the expectations of others is the least important.

CONCLUSION: The findings show that winter swimming is not just a physical activity, but a comprehensive phenomenon that affects psychological well-being, self-perception, and health behavior. Understanding these aspects contributes to a better assessment of the benefits and challenges associated with this sport and further development of both sports science and guidelines for winter swimming enthusiasts.

BACKGROUND: Success in weightlifting is determined by the execution of two lifts, the clean and jerk and the snatch. However, an effective lift may be affected by various factors, from body type differences to the cross-effect of lifts. The latter is an urgent issue in competitive weightlifting research.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the developed uniform tools and methods for assessing the biomechanics of lifts in weightlifting competitions to determine the optimal rhythm and tempo zone, analyze the cross-effect of lifts, and improve the technique of weightlifters for competitions.

METHODS: The experiment involved the two rated athletes (athlete A, First Class, and athlete B, a Candidate Master of Sports, competing in the same weight class of up to 81 kg) and 22 weightlifters of various classes, ages, genders, and weight. We analysed scientific and instructional publications and conducted tests, pedagogical observations, a pedagogical experiment, and a correlation analysis.

RESULTS: The study showed the need to consider the cross-effect zone of competitive lifts in weightlifting when preparing for competitions. Experiments prove that there is an optimal rhythm zone, i.e. a zone of equipment (barbell) weights with the least cross-effect of competitive lifts and no effect on the lift structure. As a result, competitive reliability increases.

CONCLUSION: The proposed tools and methods for assessing the biomechanics of lifts in weightlifting competitions allow for the most effective combination of both special (auxiliary) and basic training for competitions and the effective use of the order of exercises and their intensity in planning training sessions and promptly assessing the physical fitness of athletes and their technique.

Today, sports achievements require athletes to subject their bodies to incredible strain, which often leads to sports-related injuries. The basic methods of recovery after a sports-related injury are limited physical activity and drug therapy. A pressing issue is the excessively long recovery period after sports-related injuries when using the drug therapy, which leads to the loss of achieved results and may affect the overall health of athletes. The paper presents a review of contemporary recovery and rehabilitation strategies after physical and training overload. An analysis of various sources led us to the conclusion that, in addition to conventional therapies, drug therapy and physiotherapy should be considered as an option for sports-related injuries. The paper presents a review of contemporary recovery and rehabilitation strategies after physical and training overload. An analysis of research publications allowed to investigate relevant therapies for sports-related injuries, including physiotherapies, such as electrical muscle stimulation, heat adaptation, relaxation and mindfulness techniques. The study is focused on the efficacy comparison of approaches based on the overload type and an athlete’s profile. Combined and personalized recovery programs have been shown to provide the best results, helping to reduce fatigue, prevent injury, and maintain high performance. It is highlighted that there is a need for an evidence-based approach and objective criteria of rehabilitation efficacy.

Understanding the importance of physical training in combat training allowed to significantly improve the performance of Airborne Forces units, earning them a unique status of the most mobile and versatile combat units in the Russian Army, which entitles all servicemen of this branch of the armed forces to be honorably called the elite of the Russian Armed Forces. Physical training and sports are important in the combat training system of Airborne Forces personnel also known as Blue Berets. Throughout its history, the Airborne Forces have seen many changes and transformations aimed at improving the existing and developed methods. Thы paper studies the application and improvement of physical training programs for the Airborne Forces personnel during development and operation of this branch of the armed forces. The unique feature of modern physical and combat training programs is their focus on enhancing physical endurance, increasing strength and speed, which contribute to higher performance of military personnel in various terrains and environments. Today, valuable experience gained during the special military operation is important in the development of combat training for the flying infantry personnel. The historical aspect of the development of the modern physical training system allows to trace several stages of its evolution and transformation.

The medical service of the Workers and Peasants Red Army (1918–1924) developed in the context of a severe shortage of personnel, epidemics, and the structural chaos during the Civil War (1917–1922). The collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 led to a significant deterioration in the army’s medical care system. The analysis of materials from the Russian State Military Archives, laws of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, and departmental reports showed that the key achievements were the creation of a vertical chain of command (Central Military Medical Department, 1918), introduction of universal military medical service (1919), standardization of staged evacuation system proposed by Burdenko, and suppression of typhus epidemics. The reforms of Solovyov and Semashko allowed to reduce overall mortality in the troops by 25% and typhus mortality by 40% by 1924, to create a network of 37 colleges for mid-level medical personnel, and to lay the foundation for the Soviet military medical doctrine. The study identified key organizational strategies aimed at overcoming the healthcare crisis that emerged at the beginning of the Civil War. We conducted a comprehensive effectiveness assessment of the measures taken and their importance for addressing the military medical care issues in the first half of the 20th century.

Nikolay Pirogov (1810–1881), an outstanding surgeon and skilled manager, made a significant contribution to the development of the medical support system. Pirogov’s work included both the development of innovative treatment methods and structuring of the medical service, which earned him a key place in the history of battlefield medicine. The work used historical and medical analysis based on archive materials and the scientist’s publications. It is focused on the analysis of the effectiveness of the methods proposed by Pirogov during the siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855). It has been proven that his work was the foundation for contemporary battlefield surgery and the organization of the army’s medical service. An analysis of Pirogov’s professional activities in the 19th century shows his significant contribution to the development of battlefield surgery and anesthesiology. These achievements allowed to improve medical support in combat conditions and increase the medical support performance in the armed forces of the Russian Empire. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the contribution by Pirogov (1810–1881) to the development of the medical support system of the Russian Army during the Crimean War (1853–1856). This event was one of the first major armed conflicts that required significant transformations of the medical support system.